Search teams from a number of countries are trying to locate any sign of the Airbus A330 that disappeared from radar screens just hours after departing Rio de Janeiro en route to Paris. The plane carried 228 passengers and crew.

Among those passengers, said reports, were two senior executives of Michelin’s Brazilian operations who were traveling to France for meetings. Another company official, unaffiliated with the Brazilian executives, was returning to France after what was apparently a personal trip.

There has been no official confirmation that the tire company employees were on the flight, therefore no names are being used.

The craft apparently reported an electrical failure and sent 10 automated distress messages before it vanished, reports said. Various reports point to a large thunderstorm the plane likely encountered off the South American coast, though no officials have confirmed either the storm or any definitive cause. (Tire Review/Akron)